Following the passage of An Act Relative to Immediate COVID-19 Recovery Needs, also known as Massachusetts “ARPA 1.0” legislation (codified as Chapter 102 of the Acts of 2021), a $50 million Broadband Innovation Fund was established to bridge the digital divide as a component of the Commonwealth’s COVID recovery and response efforts. MBI solicited nine qualified organizations, named Partners, to implement a suite of digital equity projects that would meet the goals outlined in the state’s legislation. Read the Digital Equity Partnership Grant Solicitation here.
Impact to Date
Awardees
Nine organizations were awarded as grant recipients.
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Current Program Areas
Partners are currently implementing programs across the following six areas.
WiFi systems in affordable multi-unit buildings or in low income neighborhoods will provide free, in unit, broadband use
Improvements to inadequate broadband infrastructure and digital use in public spaces to increase daily use and services
The provision of WiFi cellular hot spots to individuals lacking stable housing where they are unable to have a fixed broadband internet subscription
Establish and implement digital literacy training programs to ensure that target populations have the requisite skills to use devices, online resources, and digital tools to needed effect
Projects under this program aim to secure new or used internet-connected devices that can be distributed to target populations
Direct assistance to the target populations to ensure that effective outreach, education and adoption assistance is available in concert with the above programs to ensure their maximum impact